Federal Assistance

Information provided by Office of Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky

• General Resources

  • Small Business Owner Guide to the CARES Act continues to be a great resource for small businesses & non-profits looking for assistance during this period.

• Paycheck Protection Program Loans – Apply ASAP

  • General Information: The PPP program is designed to help small businesses & non-profits maintain payroll in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible businesses who enroll in the program will receive a forgivable loan to use for payroll purposes, in addition to helping pay for utilities, rent, mortgage interest payments, and more. Key Dates: April 3, 2020: Small Businesses & Sole Proprietorship application period opened; April 10, 2020: Independent contractor & self-employed individual application period opens.

    PPP Loans Still available: The CARES Act allotted about $349 billion for the PPP loan program. Despite significant problems with large lenders across the nation, on April 3, the SBA Administrator indicated that over 17,000 loans had been approved amounting to over $5.4 billion. A significant amount of PPP loan funding remains available and Congress has shown interest in expanding this amount if needed, but work with your lender to get your application submitted as soon as possible.

    Application Information: PPP applications are to be submitted through participating lenders. (See the PPP Lender Find Tool below)

    The April 3 rollout of the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program saw some significant issues, with many lenders unprepared to take in applications from interested parties and others limiting applications to those with existing lines of credit, etc. The SBA has been working with lenders to work out these issues in the subsequent days, and I encourage you to reconnect with yours if you had no luck on April 3. As a reminder, you will be expected to provide payroll information when you apply.

    PPP Loan Resources: The Small Business Administration has distributed additional guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury on how the Paycheck Protection Program is going to be implemented and what both lenders and borrowers need to know. The following documents were provided:
    - General Program Overview for the Paycheck Protection Program
    - Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program remains available
    - PPP Lender Find Tool
    - Department of Treasury PPP Program: Frequently Asked Questions (updated 4/8) 
    - PPP: Information for Borrowers
    - Sample Paycheck Protection Program Application (link updated 4/6)
    - Small Business Administration’s PPP Page
    

• Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program remains available

  • General Information: The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program received significant funding in the Families First Act, which was the 2^nd COVID-19 stimulus package. These SBA loans provide small businesses with a long-term, low interest loan of up to $2 million to pay for expenses they would have met if not for the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Note that these are loans, not grants, although refinancing an EIDL into a PPP Loan is a possibility, provided you used the fund for the proper purpose. Additionally, applicants can apply for both EIDL and PPP loans simultaneously, although the funds cannot be used for the same purpose.

    Application Process: The SBA has just recently rolled out a new, streamlined application process that is available here. Important: if your eligible business or non-profit needs short term assistance, and you applied prior to March 29, you must re-submit your application (available here).

    If you have already applied for funds through EIDL and do not need the loan advance (discussed below), your application should continue to be processed without additional steps.

    Application Status: You may check on the status of your application by calling 800-659-2955.

• Emergency Economic Injury Grants (advance on EIDL loans)

  • General Information: Businesses that need an infusion of capital in the short term and who have applied for a loan through the EIDL program can also apply for an Emergency Economic Injury Grant, which will provide an advance of up to $10,000 from the requested EIDL amount. This process can be started from the EIDL application, available here.
    Important: if you already submitted an EIDL application prior to the launch of this program (SBA says if you applied before Monday) you will have to resubmit an application using the streamlined process at the link above. 

• SBA Express Bridge Loans
  The SBA has announced the availability of a new SBA Express Bridge Loan program, that is available to small businesses who already have an established relationship with a SBA Express Lender.
  - SBA Express Bridge Loan Program Homepage
  - SBA Express Bridge Program Guide
  - List of SBA Express Lenders (noted with a “SX” in the Program Authority column)
  
  General Information: SBA Express Bridge loans are being offered to act as a bridge for businesses who need short term funding in order to stay afloat until they receive EIDL funds they have previously applied for. These funds are available in amounts of up to $25,000 and have a fast turnaround time. These loans will be repaid in full or in part by proceeds from the EIDL loan once the process is completed.

• SBA Small Business Debt Relief Program
  The Small Business Administration is providing a program to assist small businesses who have non-disaster SBA loans – namely 7(a) loans, 504 loans, and microloans.
  Program Benefits: The SBA will cover payments (on principal and interest) in addition to fees for six months.
  Program Applicability: This program will apply to preexisting loans in these categories, in addition to new borrowers who take out these loans within six months of the CARES Act becoming law.
  Loan Program Details: Please see the below links if you think that your business could benefit from these options:
  7(a) Loan Program Information
  7(a) loans max out at $5 million are targeted towards borrowers who lack credit elsewhere and need access to flexible capital. These loans are offered through approved 7(a) lenders (a list is available here)
  504 Loan Program Information
  504 Loans max out at $5.5 million and provide long-term fixed-rate financing and may be a good option for businesses looking to purchase property or large equipment
  SBA Microloan Program Information
  The SBA’s microloan program offers loans of up to $50,000 to help small businesses start up or expand.
  
  

• Employee Retention Tax Credit
  • General Information: The CARES Act includes a Employee Retention Tax Credit, designed to encourage employers to retain their employees during the COVID-19 crisis. The IRS describes the credit as a “fully refundable tax credit for employers equal to 50 percent of qualified wages (including allocable qualified health plan expenses) that Eligible Employers pay their employees. This applies to wages paid between March 12, 2020 and January 1, 2021, with a maximum credit for any employee amounting to $5,000. Additional IRS guidance is available here.
    
    Key Caveat: This credit is not available to employers receiving assistance via the Paycheck Protection Program.
    
    
• Employer Payroll Tax Deferral

  • General Information: According to the Guide, a provision in the CARES Act allows for the deferral of the employer portion of certain payroll taxes through the end of 2020. These deferred amounts are due in two installments – one at the end of 2021, the other at the end of 2022. Included deferrable taxes include the employer portion of FICA taxes and half of SECA tax liability. I still have not seen additional IRS guidance on this, but I expect some soon at the IRS coronavirus webpage.

    Key Caveat: Deferral is not available to employers receiving assistance via the Paycheck Protection Program.

• Business Counseling (+ Assistance with Applications)
  General Information: In addition to direct financial assistance to small businesses and non-profits, the recent stimulus packages have included significant funding for enhanced small business counseling services. These organizations are well versed in how to help small businesses succeed and stand ready and willing to help your organization navigate these difficult times. Counseling resources include:
  
  - Illinois Small Business Development Center at West Side Forward - Contact is Curtis Roeschley, 773-473-4774 / croeschley@bethelnewlife.org
  - Women’s Business Development Center - 312-853-3477 / wbdc@wbdc.org / contact for loan assistance: Lotika Pai, lpai@wbdc.org
  - Minority Business Development Agency Business Center - 312-755-2563

State of Illinois Assistance

• Tax Delay - State and local sales tax deferment for small to medium-sized bars and restaurants. Learn more here.
• Illinois Small Business Emergency Loan Fund - Learn more here.
  • Small businesses low-interest loans of up to $50,000.
  • Businesses outside Chicago with less than 50 workers and $3 million in 2019 revenue.
  • 5-year term; payments deferred 6 months; below-market interest rates.

Cook County Assistance

• Technical Assistance to Access CARES Act Funding 
  • Cook County is launching a comprehensive initiative to provide economic relief to small businesses, non-profits, community service organizations and independent contractors (1099 workers) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act, a $377 billion federal stimulus bill, was recently signed into law, and the Bureau of Economic Development is providing a variety of lending resources and funding a technical assistance program that will be administered by partners across Cook County to access these federal funds. $350 billion of the CARES Act funds the Payroll Protection Program, a forgivable loan for those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the CARES Act funding and technical assistance program, the Bureau of Economic Development will be launching another relief program soon. Please check Cook County’s program web page for regularly updated information.
• Register today for their webinar about “How the Paycheck Protection Program Impacts Small Businesses in Cook County” on Wednesday, April 8, 2020 9:30 AM CDT at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2327011213033337867
  

• Cook County COVID-19 Taxes, Fines and Fees Relief Package

  • Due dates for Home Rule Taxes like the Alcoholic Beverage Tax, Amusement Tax, Tobacco Tax, and Gasoline and Hotel Accommodations Tax will be pushed back.
  • So will numerous fines and fees under the jurisdictions of the Departments of Transportation and Highways, Environment and Sustainability, Revenue, Building and Zoning, and Public Health.
  • Click here for more information

Village Programs

• Restaurants May Display An A-Frame Sign:
  Restaurants who remaining open for curbside service during the closure order, may temporarily display an A-frame sign in an effort to make the public aware you are providing this essential service. Temporary A-frame signs will not require a permit but will be subject to the following requirements.
  • Only one (1) sign is permitted per business.
  • Sign is limited to 3.5 feet in height and 2 feet in width.
  • Sign must be stored indoors when business is closed.
  • No illumination is allowed.
  • Placement of sign must maintain a four (4) foot wide passage on any sidewalk.
  • Sign shall not create unsafe conditions for pedestrians or vehicles using the public right-of-way.
  • Sign cannot interfere with sight visibility lines for safe vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
  • Sign must not be used outdoors when high winds or heavy snow conditions exist.
  • Sign may only be displayed until such time as the State of Illinois has lifted its restaurant closure order.
    
    If you have any questions regarding these requirements, please contact Linnea O’Neill at (847) 784-3555.

Emergency Resources for Workers

• State of Illinois Emergency Resources for Workers: click here
• Federal Stimulus Package Unemployment Benefits FAQ: click here
• Cook County Resident Resources: 
  • General information – Learn more here.
  • Who’s hiring now - Learn more here.